A 13th-century cystic echinococcosis from the cemetery of the monastery of Badia Pozzeveri (Lucca, Italy)

Objective: To differentially diagnose a calcified formation recovered from a 13th century AD grave from the Tuscan monastery of Badia Pozzeveri, Lucca, Italy. Materials: A calcified formation from the thoraco-abdominal region of a skeleton buried in the monastery cemetery. Methods: Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy. Results: A hollow, calcified ovoid formation was identified as typical of a hydatid cyst, permitting the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis in a 35-45year-old female. Conclusions: The study reveals the circulation of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus in the region of Lucca in late medieval Tuscany. Significance: This finding is the fourth case of cystic echinococcosis from an archaeological context in Italy and provides insight into environmental conditions that appear to have affected members of a community, irrespective of social status. Limitations: Caution and the application of multiple analyses must be exercised in the differential diagnosis to discriminate among calcified formations. Suggestions for further research: Analysis of stable isotopes of the calcified formation, such as 15N and 13C, in order to compare them with isotopic values of the host individual and to further confirm the parasitic origin of the find

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Novel Pt-Ru nanoparticles formed by vapour deposition as efficient electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation, Part I. Preparation and physical characterization

Bimetallic Pt-Ru nanoparticles supported on carbon substrates have been prepared reproducibly by a simple method that utilizes commercially available metal-organic precursors at low temperature in vacuum. Particles morphology, composition and structure have been investigated using (HR)TEM, EDX, Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) and powder XRD analysis. TEM shows that the obtained nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed on the substrate surface and exhibit narrow size distribution, the average diameter being ca. 2nm. Point resolved EDX analysis demonstrates co-presence of both Pt and Ru in each particle, thereby indicating that truly bimetallic nanoparticles have been obtained. Moreover, EDX performed on several areas of the sample evidences uniform particles composition. The latter can be controlled very easily and effectively by regulating the operation temperature during particles preparation. HRTEM imaging shows that the particles possess crystalline structure. Both SAED and XRD analyses indicate presence of nanoparticles exhibiting structure consistent with that of a fcc Pt-Ru alloy. Besides the fcc alloy, an additional crystalline phase might also be present as noticed by SAED. These nanoparticles display electrocatalytic activity with regard to methanol oxidation as evidenced by cyclic voltammetry (CV)

Novel Methodology for the Selection, Dosing and On-Line Control of Corrosion Inhibitors for Industrial Acid Pickling

A novel methodology based on electrochemical hydrogen permeation tests is proposed to study the efficiency of commercial inhibitors for industrial acid pickling of iron and mild steels. Weight loss measurements and hydrogen permeation tests have been carried out in order to compare the sensitivity of different techniques to variations of low inhibitor dosages. It has been found a close dependence between low amounts of filming inhibitors and hydrogen uptake in the metallic surface with related permeation currents. The high sensitivity of permeation currents may be very useful to establish and also control the optimum amount of active substances in industrial pickling baths, with related cost savings. The implementation of the proposed methodology to improve the control of industrial pickling plants is also envisaged, since it would be possible to improve both sensitivity and time response of experimental permeation curves

Intragranular Nucleation of Ferrite on Precipitates and Grain Refinement in a Hot Deformed V-microalloyed Steel

The intragranular nucleation of ferrite has been studied in a V microalloyed steel (C=0.103; Mn=1.463; V=0.139; N=0.0100% mass). Using torsion tests and applying the double deformation method known as “back extrapolation”, the recrystrallised fraction of austenite has been determined for several deformation temperatures and two strain values (0.20 and 0.35) and has been plotted as a function of time. Recrystallisation-precipitation-time-temperature (RPTT) diagrams have then been drawn. The RPTT diagrams depict precipitation kinetics as a function of the temperature and time and this information has been used to study the intragranular nucleation of ferrite, cooling specimens from programmed temperatures and moments for which the precipitated volume and the average precipitate size (determined by TEM) are known. The results have allowed us to determine the contribution of intragranular nucleation to ferritic grain refinement, which was approximately 20%.Peer reviewe

A hybrid polyketone–SiO2 support for palladium catalysts and their applications in cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation and in 1-phenylethanol oxidation

An organic-inorganic hybrid material, PK-SiO2 (PK = polyketone), was employed as support for Pd catalysts. Their synthesis was carried out by MW irradiation of an ethanol solution of Pd(OAc)(2) in the presence of the support. The obtained systems were characterized by solid state NMR, SEM, TEM, ICP, XPS, BET, gas porosimetry and tested in two probe reactions: the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to hydrocinnamaldehyde carried out in decalin and the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone in water. For comparison, Pd/PK and Pd/SiO2 catalysts were also prepared by using the same procedure, characterized and tested in the same reactions. On the hybrid support the Pd nanoparticles resulted significantly smaller and with a more homogeneous size distribution compared to those on bare SiO2 or PK. The catalysts on the hybrid support allowed a higher performance and could be recycled up to five.times without loss of activity and metal leaching. These results were related to the improved surface area of the hybrid material (compared to the low surface area of bare PK) ascribable to silica introduction, combined with the stabilizing effect of the polymeric counterpart against Pd nanoparticles agglomeratio

Rosmarinic and Glycyrrhetinic Acid-Modified Layered Double Hydroxides as Functional Additives for Poly(Lactic Acid)/Poly(Butylene Succinate) Blends

Immobilizing natural antioxidant and biologically active molecules in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) is an excellent method to retain and release these substances in a controlled manner, as well as protect them from thermal and photochemical degradation. Herein, we describe the preparation of host&ndash;guest systems based on LDHs and rosmarinic and glycyrrhetinic acids, two molecules obtained from the extraction of herbs and licorice root, respectively, with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Intercalation between the lamellae of the mono-deprotonated anions of rosmarinic and glycyrrhetinic acid (RA and GA), alone or in the presence of an alkyl surfactant, allows for readily dispersible systems in biobased polymer matrices such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and a 60/40 wt./wt. PLA/PBS blend. The composites based on the PLA/PBS blend showed better interphase compatibility than the neat blend, correlated with increased adhesion at the interface and a decreased dispersed phase size. In addition, we proved that the active species migrate slowly from thin films of the composite materials in a hydroalcoholic solvent, confirming the optimization of the release process. Finally, both host&ndash;guest systems and polymeric composites showed antioxidant capacity and, in the case of the PLA composite containing LDH-RA, excellent inhibitory capacity against E. coli and S. aureus